Whitley rapist jailed at Reading Crown Court

Robert Hawkins was sentenced to 11 years in prison for raping a schoolgirl

A rapist whose victim reported him to police after being a juror on a sex crime case was jailed today.

Robert Hawkins, 52, of Northumberland Avenue, Whitley, was sentenced to 11 years in prison at Reading Crown Court this afternoon.

In September a jury found Hawkins guilty of raping the now 26-year-old between July 30, 2001 and December 31, 2002, when she was a schoolgirl.

The court heard that Hawkins raped the girl in his then girlfriend Gelinda Triff's bedroom, in Beatty Drive, Tilehurst.

Sandra Beck, prosecuting said: "Being on the bed she recalls her top being off and the defendant pulling off her leggings. She says she didn't understand what was happening."

Ms Beck said Hawkins then started to have sex with the girl and she “blacked out”.

The court heard Hawkins was previously jailed in October 2010 for four years after pleading guilty to rape.

Jennifer Edwards, defending said Hawkins did not have the advantage of much mitigation but said it was a one off incident with the girl.

"Mr Hawkins doesn't make any future attempt to have sexual contact with the young girl, it was very much a one off," she said. "When he was sentenced in 2010 he pleaded guilty to the offence and he called the police admitting what he had done."

Judge Nicholas Wood sentenced Hawkins to 11 years in prison based on the girl being over 13 but under 16 when she was raped and his previous conviction.